Clutch



July 9, 1940.

E. E. wEMP 2,206,988

CLUTCH Filed Feb. 9, 1958 sheets-sheet;

. v INVNTR. 2741-176529 M /emp I wwww@ ATTORNEY;

Patented July 9, 1940 Nov li 1941- UNITED STATES. PATENT oFFIcE Ernest n. wem. neu-ou, man. y Application February 9, 1938, Serial No. 189,547

13 Claims.

This invention relates to clutches and it has to do with improvements in a clutch especially designed for use with automotive vehicles.

Among the objects of the inventionsiathe pro- 5 vision of an improved construction wherein coil springs may be used for exerting all or part of the clutch packing pressure and wherein the movable clutch pressure plate is driven, held centered and permitted to be moved by exible metal members.

l0 Both the springs and the iiexible metal members are circumferentially arranged, and in accordance with the invention the arrangement and construction is such that the flexible metal members do not interfere with or reduce the number l5 of springs which may be used. Moreover, the invention is directed to certain structural features of an improved nature and to the combination of a cover plate for the clutch and pressure plate mounting wherein certain parts of the cover plate' N have suiiicient flexibility to accommodate pressure plate movement. These points will be better understood as the detailed description progresses:

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. l is a rear elevational view of the clutch constructedin accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through the clutch. l

Fig. 3 is an'enlarged view taken substantially M on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similarvto Fig. 6,Y

flywheel by cap screws 3. The cover plate shown is of the form disclosed and'covered in'Patent No. 2,079,888 of May l1, .1937.- This cover plate is generally of polygonal form and specifically of triangular form, and may be stamped from-sheet metal. It has some depth so as to provide a rear wall 4 and it may have a center reenforcing flange 5. The three sides of the cover plate, as illustrated at II. are disposed on chordal lines and.

extend forwardly from the rear wall towardthe u ily-wheel. but these walls are arched so as to plate generally indicated at 2 secured to the' bridge the pressure plate. The pressure plate is illustrated -at 13. At the corners the cover plate has angularly disposed and forwardly extending `inclined walls 1. The periphery of the plate presents a flange 8 substantially at what may 6 be termed the corners for the reception ofthe cap screws, and a flange 9 along the forward edge of 'the sides 6. In reality it may be considered that there is but one peripheral flange of which portions 8 and 9 are parts.

A driven shaft is illustrated at I0 upon which is mounted a drivendisc Il with facing material I2 arranged to be packed between the ywheel and thel pressure plate. A plurality of coil springs is disposed between the pressure plate l5 and the rear wall 4 of the cover plate, each spring being illustrated at I5. At shown in Fig. l nine `springs are illustrated in .this particular clutch, there being three groups of springs of three springs each spaced relative to the three re- 20 leasing levers. The cover plate carries a yoke for e'ach lever as illustrated at I 6, and each lever Il is pivotally mounted to the yoke as at I8 andpivotally connected to the pressure plate as at I 9. The cover plate may have apertures 28 through 25 which an unbalanced weighted end at each lever `extends as illustrated at 2|. A clutch throw- Y out bearing is illustrated at 22 and arranged to engage the inner ends of the levers for clutch control, and this bearing may be shifted by means 80 of a yoke 23. l

` Insofar as this invention isl concerned the levers may or may not be provided withthe unbalanced centrifugal weights, although this is l the form ofclutch shown herein to exemplify the a5 invention. It willv be understood that the clutch may be normally engaged by the springs I5, and when rotated' the unbalanced centrifugal weights increase the clutch packing pressure.

Ihe pressure plate I3 is driven, held centeredY o and permitted to shift axially by a plurality of flexible driving members preferably lof sheet metal; these may be termed segmental -drive members; each driving member may take the form of a rectangular piece of sheet metal as 45 illustrated at 30. These sheet-'metal members are secured to the ange 9, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5and in one form-of the invention rivets 3| are used for the attachment, there preferably being a strip of mild steel 32 disposed between 50 the heads'of the rivetsand the flexible members 30 which arepreferably of a higher carbon steel.

The 'plates 30 extend inwardly andthe pressure plate vis provided with abutments-for. lugs 33,.

Suitable recesses or apertures 3l are provided ms v e2,206,988-vvy spring and the pressure plate.

in the abutments for the reception of studs preferably press fltted into the apertures. The studs 35 have a reduced neck, and the end of each stud is spun over or riveted to the plate 30 preferably with the interposition of a washer or strip of mild steel 36.

As will be noted in reference to Fig. 1 the sheet metal -plates are located generally where they would normally interfere with the springs. In some clutches of smaller size, as `for example, the one illustrated in Fig. 1, six springs may suillce, in which case there may be one spring on each side of each sheet metal plate. However, where additional capacity is needed each sheet metal plate may be provided with an aperture 4U, and a spring I5 extends through this aperture and seats on the pressure plate. A heat insulating washer 4| may be used between each At these points the pressure plate may be provided with projections 42 cast thereon and which may be drilled into or machined for balancing purposes. The wall t of the cover plate may be fashioned with an inwardly extending formation 43 for guiding and centering each spring.

In making the clutch assembly the flexible plates may be rivetedto the cover plate and then the pressure plate may be placed into a subassembly with the cover plate and springs by press fitting the studs 35 into the recesses. Then this subassembly may be brought up to the flywheel and secured in position by the cap screws 3. When repairs are to be made this subassembly of the pressure plate and cover plate and other press on the usual clutch pedal to shift the release bearing 22. The springs are not called upon to supply the total clutch pressure which is needed where the unbalanced centrifugal weights are used, and in this regard the organization may be of the type'covered in Patent No. 2,021,973 of November 26, 1935.

The driving members 30 serve to drive the pressure plate from the cover plate, also serve to center the pressure plate and to hold it on center and permit the pressure plate to shift axially and silently for clutch control. For example, when the clutch is disengaged the pressure plate is shifted to the right from the Fig. 4 position to the Fig. 5 position, and the flexible plates permit of this movement. However, the center to center distance between the points of attachment of the plates to the cover plate and to the pressure plate, or in other words, from the center ofthe rivets 3l to the center of the studs 35, varies with axial shift of the pressure plate. In the form shown the plates 30 are flat so that the plates themselves do not .take care of this variation, although they are flexible to permit axial movement. The cover plate, however, has suillcient elasticity and flexibility to accommodate for this variation. For example, the distance between centers is greater in Fig. 5 than it is in Fig. 4, and the wall portion 6 of the cover plate ilexes or bends to take care of this situation. This movement, of course. is rather small but necessary for a nicety of clutchactuation. The cover plate construction accommodates for this variation nicely, inasmuch as the walls 6 are dis' of force tending to bend the same.

plate, therefore, has flexible portions to which the flexible segmental driving plates are secured.

In Fig. 6 the plates 30 are riveted as at 50 to the pressure plate and are bolted as at 5I to the cover plate. In this form the subassembly of the cover plate, pressure plate and associated parts is made by bolting the segmental drive members to the cover plate. This subassembly may then be secured to the flywheel and in subsequent disassemblies the subassembly may be removed as a unit from the flywheel and, if necessary, the pressure plate and cover plate may be separated at the points 5I.

In Fig. '7 an arrangement is shown wherein shown in Fig: 7 may accommodate twelve springs.'

In this formvof the invention, see also Fig. 8, the flexible plates 60 have apertures 6| in opposite edge portions. The apertures 6I are not complete holes but are in the nature of scallops in the edges. Thus two springs may be located between each lever and each segmental plate, the springs being indicated by the reference character l5 which is used above. Of each two springs one may be located relatively close to the lever and the other located in one of the recesses or scallops, as illustrated.l Thus the springs in this form are arranged in three groups of four each.

In some of the claims appended hereto it is specified that the plates have an aperture for the passage of a spring therethrough, and the term "aperture is to be considered as applicable to the scalloped formation, which in a sense is an aperture, although not completely bounded by metal of the plate. l

I claim:

1. In a clutch, the combination of driving and driven members, a clutch cover plate, a plurality of circumferentially arranged coil springs between the cover plate and one driving member for packing the clutch members together, said one driving member being inside the cover plate, a plurality of flexible metal plates arranged in circumferentiaily spaced relationship inside the cover plate and connected to the cover plate and d to the said one'driving member for driving, centering and permitting axial shift of said one driving member, said plates each having an aperture therein and one of said springs extending through the apertures in each of the plates.

2. In a. clutch, the combination of a driving member, a cover plate secured thereto, a pressure ring inside the cover plate, a. driven member between the driving member and pressure ring, a plurality of flexible metal plates arranged in circumferentially spaced relationship 4and connected at their outer portions to the cover plate and extending inwardly across the pressure ring inside the cover plate and connected to the inner portion of the pressure ring, each flexible metal plate having an aperture' therein and a plurality of circumferentially spaced coil springs between the cover plate and pressure ring with one spring extending through the aperture in each flexible metal plate.

' 3. In a' clutch, the combination of a driving member, `a cover plate attached thereto and having flexibley wall portions, an axially shiftable Apressure ring inside the cover plate, a driven disc between the driving member and pressure ring, said pressure ring having circumferentially arranged abutmentsat its inner portion which pro- `iect axially from the body of the pressure ring. a plurality of circumferentia-lly arranged at and exible metal plates each connected at its outer portion to a flexible wall portion of the cover plate and connected at its inner portion to one of said abutments and disposed inside the cover plate, whereby the flexible plates extend across the pressure ring between the cover plate and pressure ring and serve to center, drive and permit axial movement of the pressure ring, and-a plurality of circumferentially arranged coil springs between the cover plate and pressure ring.

4. In a clutch, the combination 'of a driving member, .a cover plate attached thereto, an axially shiftable pressure ring inside the cover plate, a driven disc between the driving member and pressure ring, said pressure ring having circumferentially arranged abutments at its inner portion which project axially from the body of the pressure ring, a plurality of l circumferentially arranged exible metal plates inside the cover plate and each connected at its outer portion to the cover plate and connected at'its inner por- 'tion to one of said abutments. whereby the exible plates extend across the pressure ring between the cover plate and pressure ring and Serve to center, drive and permit axial movement of the pressure ring, each flexible plate having an aperture therein, and a plurality of circumferentially arranged coil springs between the cover plate and pressure ring with` one of the springs extending through the aperture in each exible metal plate.

5. In a clutch, the combination-of a driving member, a cover plate secured to the driving member and having side portions, an axially shiftable pressure plate, a driven member between the driving member and pressure plate, and said side portions each having a flange a portion of which is spaced from the driving member. a plurality of fiexible metal plates each connected at its outer portion to one of said flanges,

and each extending inwardly across the pressure plate in spaced relation thereto and connected to the pressure plate at its inner portion for centering, driving and permitting axial shift of the pressure plate, and a plurality of circumferentially arranged coil springs between the cover plate and pressure plate.

6. In a clutch, the combination of a driving member, a cover plate secured to the driving member and having side portions, an axially shiftable pressure plate. a driven member between the driving member and pressure plate, said side portions including parts spaced from the driving member, and said side portions having a flange, a plurality of flexible metal plates each 4 connected at its outer portion to one of said anges, and each extending inwardly across the pressure plate in spaced relation thereto and connected to the pressure plate at its inner por tion for centering` driving and permitting axial shift of the pressure plate, and a plurality of circumferentially arranged coil springs between the cover plate and pressure plate, each flexible metal plate having an aperture therein through which one of said springs passes.

'7. In a clutch, the combination of a driving member, a cover plate secured to the driving member and having side portions, an axially shiftable pressure plate, a driven member between the driving member and pressure plate, said side portions including parts spaced from the driving member andsaid side portions having an outwardly extending flange, 'a-plurality of nat flexible metal plates each connected at its outer portion to one of said anges and each extending inwardly across the pressure plate in spaced relation thereto and connected to the pressure plate at its inner portion for centeringdriving and permitting axial shift of the pressure plate, and a plurality of circumferentially arranged coil springs between the cover plate and pressure plate, each exible metal plate having an aperture therein through which one of said springs passes.

8. In a clutch,l the combination of a driving member, a pressure plate, a cover plate having outer side walls extending substantially in an axial direction, said side walls having outwardly directed, flanges, a pressure plate having abutments at its inner vportion projecting toward the cover plate, a plurality of flat metal plates each connected adjacent its outer portion to one of said anges and connected adjacent its inner portion` to one of the abutments for driving the pressure plate and permitting axial shift thereof, said pla-tes extending across the pressure plate in spaced relation thereto and positioned between the pressure plate and the rear portion of the cover plate, and a plurality of coil springs arranged between the cover plate and pressure plate, said side walls constituting flexible portions for flexing upon axial shift of the pressure plate.

9. In a clutch, the combination of a flywheel, a pressure plate, a driven member between the flywheel and pressure plate, a cover plate, said cover plate being substantially of triangular form with side portions disposed substantially on chordal lines and arranged to bridge edgeportions of the pressure plate, a clutch release lever adjacent each of the three corners of the .trianguiar shape, a flexible sheet metal plate adjacent each side of the triangular shape and overlapping the pressure plate and each connected at its outer edge to a chordal wall of the cover plate and, at its inner edge to the inner portion of the pressure plate, each flexible plate having an aperture therein, and a group of coil springs adjacent each 'side of the triangular shape and arranged between the cover plate and pressurev plate, one spring of each group extending through the aperture in the adjacent flexible metal plate.

l0. In a clutch, a cover plate, a pressure plate inside the cover plate, a plurality of circumferentially arranged flexible sheet metal plates inside the cover plate, means connecting the outer portion of each sheet'metal plate to the cover plate, the inner portion of the -pressure plate having apertures therein, and studs xedly secured to the inner portion of each exible sheet metal plate and press fitted into the apertures of the pressure plate.

11. In a clutch, a cover plate, a pressure plate' tween the` cover plate and one driving member for packing the clutch members together, a

plurality of substantially rectangular flexible metal plates arranged in circumferentially spaced relationship inside the cover plate and each connected at on(` edge to the cover plate and at the opposite edge to the said on(` driving member for driving. centering and permitting axial shift of said one driving member, said plates each having one or more Cutout portions for the passage of one or more springs through the same.

13. In a clutch, the combination of driving and driven members, a clutch cover plate, a plurality of circumferentially arranged coil springs be- 

